I know i'm just new here, but am wondering if anyone can tell me how to handle Billy during thunder storms. He used to be petrified of any loud noises, but we managed to get through guy fawkes last year without too many problems. When it's thundery (like tonight), Billy will pace, scratch at anything and everything (the carpet, furniture), paces, pulls over the dehumidifier and generally wreaks havoc. He becomes unresponsive, and is too agitated to listen to me, or respond to any kind of food. I do not have a crate, and am not overly keen on getting one. I just wondered what other people do, when their dogs get all panicky. He is usually very obedient (altho sometimes his ears are just painted on <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" /> ) but I just don't know what to do with him. I do not make a big fuss when he's scared, as I've heard that just makes them worse...anyone got any ideas?

Did he have any traumatic event that you think may lead him to this behaviour? How old is he?

Traumatic behaviour can difficult to overcome...especially when he goes completely nuts as you describe him to be...

Dogs don't have to have had any trauma to be scared of thunder. Kala (who left us a year ago) was a very confident strong girl but just melted into a shaking heap in a thunder storm. Little Shelby isn't quite as bad, now we've found Jolly Molly Muffin is also scared of thunder. I've had some success with Resuce Remedy. At it's best administered a few hrs before the thunder starts though. To try to ignore the dog's behaviour, he will gain some confidence from you if he sees you're calm and unworried, although in extreme behaviour it wld be hard to do. On a bad night I'd sit on the floor with the girls and have them close to me but not necessarily stroking them (I hate to admit it but I have slept in the spare bed with them on really really bad nights).There is also a product called Clomicalm which is v gd for calming animals. Denise will be able to tell you whether it's vet only or whether you can get it in pet shops too. Poor Billy

Clonicalm is a vet only drug. 1/2 tablet is all that is required. I have my 9 mth on it at present due to her thinking she has given birth to a blue octopus (phantom pregnancy - she is speyed) and having severe symptoms with inconsolable crying - well more like wailing, when the squeaker of one of the octopus legs died. (stop laughing) Anyway the Clonicalm makes them calm, it does not sedate them. Genie is pretty calm anyway so her agitation was so out of character... She even got milk.

Haha, Denise, is that really true? What made her think she gave birth to an octopus?

Well K9loyal, she had this doggie toy given to her for Christmas from a friend in America which is a light blue, velvety octopus. It has two squeakers in its head and one in each tentacle. When she picks it up the legs dangle, perhaps she thought it was a puppy. She would press each leg to make sure her babies were alive. She was carrying it everywhere, as well as her pink bunny and green parrot I might add but "Ocky" was the favourite. I have photos of her putting Ocky to bed in her nest between the retaining wall and the ferns. She managed to scrape some fur off her nose when she built her nest. This is all settling now thankfully

Haha, glad she's calming down.

Hi K9Loyal, its all true, poor Genie but she does love Ocky so much. Its quite sad watching Genie like this coz she is a puppy that can defuse situations between other dogs by just going up to them & walking through the middle of them. She has a nature to die for, all GSD's should have her nature.

Liz, Jayke SPCA, Sheba 212 & Chloe337

okay so cute about Genie but also a bit sad for her too. As for Billy, i do feel really sorry for him (and you for having to watch). One of our dogs (rottieXHunterway) used to try and chase/catch the thunder until one night we had some fork lightning which arked off the clothes line and hit him! (he was never quite the same after that - no really!) Anyway, of course whenever there was thunder after that Winston was an absolute wreck. I used to bring him inside but just not make a fuss of him (this is an OUTSIDE dog) That was a couple of years ago and he is getting much better. Still gets a little nervous when its really bad but overall seems to have forgotten his rather nasty ordeal.
Good luck with Billy.

I'm baaaccckk!!! firstly apologies for being gone so long - it was not my intention to join up and then not participate, but have been completely snowed under, and having mega-trouble with the computer. still, all fixed now!!! thanks for the advice re Billy and thunder. following discussions with our vet, i now am trialling dog appeasing pheromone. so far it has had a very calming effect on Billy, and friends have noticed that he is much more relaxed. he has also become a lot more playful and responsive to me. Owing to him being a rescue, I have no idea how he was before, but he was petrified from the word go. at least now it is less common for him to get so concerned with any noise! I reckon there's nothing like a dog bouncing down the hallway to greet you when you get home. Billy has taken to offering his paw for shaking to many - how cute is THAT? hehehe

oh yes, Billy is 6-ish. I have now had him for just over 4 years. We have done a lot of work together - very slowly! and he is a joy to be with - except when he's chasing cats and rabbits! (isn't fast enough to catch either)